1200 miles on the beautiful blue Danube: bucharest to vienna

 The journey to the estuary of the Danube where it meets the Black Sea, and the visit to the Danube Delta with its amazing wildlife and scenery will remain an unforgettable experience.

Tues, Oct 19 – We’ll leave from O’Hare bound for Bucharest.  Air cost is not included at this point as we must wait 11 months before the trip's return.

Weds, Oct 20 - After landing at the Otopeni Airport, Bucharest you will be transferred to a centrally located 4- or 5-star hotel. Get into the mood for your upcoming trip with an atmospheric Welcome Dinner.  D

Thur, Oct 21 - After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin a full day exploration of the capital city of Romania, the “Paris of the East”. Your adventure begins with a panoramic city tour which includes stop at the impressive Parliament Palace. Construction began in 1984 under the Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, it is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon in the United States. Continue along the city’s broad boulevards, past the opera house and the Triumph Arch – modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. After lunch in a local restaurant, continue on foot through the historic center of Bucharest.  Visit the Stavropoleos Church (dating back to 1724), which is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the city, and the Romanian Orthodox Church.  Your afternoon concludes with a transfer to the Danube port of Fetesti, for embarkation.  After settling into your cabin, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail and Dinner. B/L/D

 Fri, Oct 22  - The natural beauty of the Danube Delta is on full display today. Spend the morning cruising Sfantu Gheorghe (Saint George), one of the 3 main channels that make up the Danube Delta. At the meeting of the Black Sea and the Danube, this UNESCO site hosts 27 different ecosystems and is home to many unique species of birds, fish, and other creatures. From the fisherman’s village of Saint George, observe daily life for the people who inhabit this fertile delta. For those wishing to delve further into the scenic waterways, the optional Delta Safari boat excursion awaits. During dinner, enjoy sunset over the waters of the Danube Delta as your vessel departs and begins the journey back up the Danube. B/L/D

Sat, Oct 23  - Arrive in the small Romanian city of Hirsova in the morning.  The city is home to the famous ancient Roman Ruins of Carsium, and the Lipovan Church, a unique structure which stands high above the city. Today's optional excursion visits Constanta, the oldest continually inhabited city in Romania and an important cultural and economic center, featuring the famous Genoese Lighthouse, the Archaeology Park, and the Great Mahmudiye Mosque. In the meantime, the vessel continues to Fetesti, where excursion guests will rejoin. Spend this afternoon cruising the Danube - the natural border between Bulgaria and Romania - viewing Romania on the right bank of the river and Bulgaria on the left. B/L/D

Sun, Oct 24   - This morning, the ship reaches the southernmost harbour on the Danube - Svishtov - which is situated on the Bulgarian side of the river. For those wanting to explore a little farther inland, an optional excursion including lunch is offered to the enchanting Veliko Tarnovo, the oldest town in Bulgaria. This pretty town is located on the steep banks of the river Yantra at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. High on a peak is the remains of the medieval town of Tsarevets, where 22 tsars made history in the 2nd Bulgarian empire. The flagships of the neighboring museum village of Arbanassi consist of the Church of the Nativity, adorned with splendid murals, and the rose oil, which is a speciality of this picturesque town. After a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, return to the ship which is now docked in Nikopol. B/L/D

Mon, Oct 25   - The natural beauty of the mighty Danube River is on full display as your AMADEUS vessel makes its way around bends and through the picturesque “Iron Gates”. This beautiful passage is named “Iron Gates” for the two hydroelectric dams that control the waterflow. Watch from the deck as the vessel passes through the narrow gorge between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains which forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Keep an eye out for the many caves and rock sculptures hiding among the steep hills overlooking the Danube. B/L/D 

Tue, Oct 26  - After breakfast, arrive in Belgrade, one of the oldest European cities and the capital of Serbia. The city lies at the juncture of the Danube and the Sava Rivers. The “White City” is one of the most historically rich and important places in all of Serbia. From the Kalemegdan-Belgrade fortress, you’ll have an impressive panoramic view over the Danube and the Sava Rivers. Once an important military fortification, it now serves as the central park of Belgrade. Be sure to see the National Museum, the Parliament, the Terazije square, and the palace of Princess Ljubica. Another highlight is the St. Sava Temple, the largest Orthodox Church in Serbia. The city has a bustling pedestrian area with plenty of shops and markets ripe for exploration. To taste the local cuisine, the Skadarlija (Skadarska Street) is a pedestrian street filled with restaurants and cafes, emanating the spirit of Old Belgrade. Belgrade has a wide variety of museums with something for everyone, including historical museum, the Nikola Tesla museum dedicated to the man who made significant contributions to electric engineering, and an Aeronautical Museum displaying over 200 aircraft that had been operated by the Serbian and Yugoslav Air Forces as well as other rare aircraft and aviation equipment. Rejoin the ship this afternoon and continue along the Danube. B/D

Wed, Oct 27  - This morning visit the tiny harbor town of Mohács, a melting pot of nations. Two important battles took place in the fields around this town, which had a huge impact on European history. The battle in 1526 was lost and was the beginning of the reign of the Ottoman Empire over the country for the next century and a half. In 1687 the Austrian troops and Habsburg allies overturned the empire and regained the cities of the Danube. This afternoon relax onboard or join the optional excursion to the Puszta to enjoy the scenery of the endless plain, where the sky stretches into the horizon. B/L/D 

Thur, Oct 28 - Early this morning we dock in Budapest, the capital and largest city of Hungary. A large portion of this city is a World Heritage Site, including the banks of the Danube, Andrassy Avenue, the Buda Castle quarter, Heroes’ Square, and the Millennium Underground Railway. With 80 geothermal hot springs, the third largest Parliament building in the world, and the second largest Synagogue, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy in this bustling city. A visit to the covered market is a feast for the senses. The market is a favorite with the locals for the fresh produce, seafood and spices, including the famous Hungarian paprika. After the day’s explorations, a special Hungarian evening is planned with the traditional music of the country topped with an evening cruise down the Danube to see this beautiful city by night. B/L/D

Fri, Oct 29   - You arrive in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava before breakfast. This romantic city with its impressive Gothic and Baroque buildings is best explored in the morning, during the course of a city sightseeing tour, which takes you to all the most beautiful sights. You return to your AMADEUS ship for lunch on board, and thereafter you have the opportunity of visiting the imperial Festchloss Hof, once a residence of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresia, during the afternoon. The sumptuous gardens of this palace are highly recommended. Your ship weighs anchor before midnight and arrives in Vienna at 9am. B/L/D

Sat, Oct 30  - After breakfast, we bid farewell to the crew. We have planned an extension of our time in Europe as we tour Vienna this morning. Then enjoy the Moravian landscape as we make our way to Prague for the next two nights. Our hotel, Grand Hotel Prague, is in a 14th century building which preserves the atmosphere of old Prague. We are directly across from the Old Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock.   B

Sun Oct 31 – This morning our guide will show us Prague. Our hotel, the Grand Hotel Prague, is quite close to the Old Town historic area. The rest of the day is yours. Then tonight there is an optional Medieval 5 Course Dinner (pork, chicken or fish choices) and Show including beverages you might enjoy as we end our stay in the Czech Republic. B 

Mon, Nov 1- This morning we make our way to the Prague airport for our flight back to O’Hare arriving around 3:30pm.